Saints tailback Reggie Bush did not practice on Thursday, leaving his status for Sunday's game at Kansas City in serious doubt. Both he and Coach Sean Payton, though, said they remain optimistic that he might be able to play if he has a good practice today.

Bush said he didn't feel any ill effects after he practiced on a limited basis Wednesday for the first time since he had surgery to repair torn meniscus in his left knee on Oct. 20, but the team held him back as a precaution.

Michael DeMocker, The Times-PicayuneReggie Bush is still hampered by a knee injury and may not return to the Saints' lineup Sunday at Kansas City.

"We rested Reggie with the idea that we'll be able to get him snaps (Friday), " Payton said. "You're always guarded about a re-injury and being smart, but I was encouraged with where Reggie was today after yesterday's practice."

"It's just kind of day to day, " said Bush, who wasn't as definitive about his status this week as he was last week, when he said he'd "definitely" be back in time for the Kansas City game.

He will likely be listed as questionable on the Saints' official injury report today, leaving his status in doubt until the team releases its inactive list an hour before kickoff Sunday.

Receiver Marques Colston, who has been bothered by a lingering knee injury, was limited in practice Thursday, but he is much more likely to play Sunday.

Left tackle Jon Stinchcomb (calf) returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday, a good sign that he could play Sunday.

Center Jonathan Goodwin (knee) appears doubtful, though, after sitting out Thursday's practice. Payton said he was less encouraged by Goodwin's progress than he was with Bush's.

Fullback Mike Karney (knee) and cornerback Aaron Glenn (ankle) did not practice and almost certainly won't play. Everyone else should be good to go.

INJURY COUNT So far this season, 13 of the Saints' 22 projected starters have missed at least one game due to injury, combining to miss a total of 29 games.

That number will climb to more than 50 games with Charles Grant, Mike McKenzie and Tracy Porter out for the remainder of the season, and fullback Mike Karney certain to miss at least two or three weeks with his current knee injury.

DORSEY'S LEARNING CURVE: Former LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey has been off to a somewhat slow start in his rookie season with the Chiefs, though he has played in every game and recorded his first career sack last week against San Diego.

"There are good days and bad days, but it's getting better every week, " said Dorsey, who has 31 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in nine starts. "(The biggest adjustments are) just technique-wise and the game speed, getting used to everybody being as good as you are, and just trying to come out and work on everything, because everybody's good."

Dorsey, whose progress was slowed by a sprained left knee during the preseason, has been more consistent against the run. It's hard to tell since the Chiefs rank last in the NFL in run defense (172.3 yards per game), but their young defense has been steadily improving in that area in recent weeks.

Chiefs Coach Herm Edwards said Dorsey is "a sponge" who is eager to learn and has shown improvement each week.

Perhaps Sunday will give him the motivation to turn the corner. Dorsey, who is from Gonzales, said he grew up as a Saints fan, and he has about 40 family members coming in for Sunday's game.

"They're Saints fans, but they're going to root for the Chiefs on Sunday, " he said.

Dorsey, who was the fifth overall pick in this year's draft, almost became a Saint on draft day.

The Saints offered a trade to Kansas City to move up from the No. 10 spot, which included their first-round pick in 2009, but the Chiefs wanted Dorsey. Instead, the Saints traded up to the No. 7 slot, where they drafted Southern Cal defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, who has shown some great promise as a pass rusher and run stuffer this year.

"That would have been cool too, " said Dorsey, who said he was aware of the possible trade. "But I'm a Chief. I'm happy here. I'll be happy wherever I go."

BREES' PASSING PACE: Saints quarterback Drew Brees is well ahead of pace to break Dan Marino's record for passing yards in a season. Marino threw for 5,084 yards in 1984. Brees has 2,985 yards through nine games -- more than any quarterback in NFL history through nine games -- putting him on pace for 5,306.

Brees needs 211 yards this week to have the most passing yardage through 10 games.

He also is close to breaking his own team record for 300-yard passing games in a season. He had eight in 2006, and he has seven already this season. The NFL record for 300-yard passing games in a season is 10.

LOCKER-ROOM NOTES: All of the Saints players had new "Saints Edge" T-shirts in their locker this week -- a gift that came courtesy of veteran defensive tackle Hollis Thomas, who makes such gestures every year. . . . Linebacker Scott Fujita, meanwhile, was ashamed to have some Southern Cal gear on display in his locker. The Cal alum lost a bet with some friends when his Bears lost to the Trojans last week, so he's been wearing a USC jersey and cap to work each day.

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Mike Triplett can be reached at mtriplett@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3405.